Dec 30, 2009

Canadian journalist killed in Afghanistan

Canadian journalist Michelle Lang, a 34-year-old reporter at the Calgary Herald, was killed Wednesday along with four soldiers when a roadside bomb hit the armored vehicle they were traveling in:

She is the first Canadian journalist to die in the Afghan war since Canada joined the international mission in 2002, and is believed to be the first Herald reporter ever killed on the job in the paper’s 126-year history.

As sad as this story is I strongly disagree with your statement. Any reporter can be compromised based on situations and they need to remain objective whether in Iraq or covering a family who has just lost a loved one. It may be hard to do and difficult to deal with, but, that is the nature of reporting.

No doubt it makes reporters a target, much like medics. However, reporters know this going in and are willing to take the risk.